Carpet-stretcher.



PATENTED JANQB, 190 3. 1

H. O. FBHRMANN. CARPET STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1901.

no MODEL.

1m: NORRIS Pains 60., Puo'wuwa. wuamc'rcu. a. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN O. FEHRMANN, OF JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,829, dated January6, 1903. Application filed April 22, 1901. gerial No. 56,856. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANC. FEHRMANN, residing at J efierson, in thecounty of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Carpet- Stretchers, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which area part of this specifian edge elevation of the invention, showing theparts arranged ready for the stretching operation. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4.is a cross-section on the line 4. 40f Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryedge elevation showing the hinged portion turned out into operativeposition. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail fragmentary views of the modifiedform of construction.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 9 indicates the main pieceormember of the improved stretcher, said member being provided on itsupper side longitudinally with a groove 10, in which fits a slidable arm11. This arm is provided at required distances apart with openings orrecesses 12, and at its outer end is formed or provided with a headportion 13, to

which is secured a block 14, said blockformed on its under side with aseries of closely-arranged fiexible steel Wires, forming a wire fabric15, in which the individual wires are preferably bent, as shown. 7

The numeral 16 indicates an operating-lever, which is pivoted near itslower end between two upwardly-extending straps 17 17 on a pivot-bolt18. The lower ends of these straps are pivotally connected to oppositeside edges of the main member 9 on a pivotof the arm 11.

bolt 19. Links 20 20 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to therespective straps 1'7, and the lower ends of said links are pivoted on aremovable bolt 21, passing transversely through the main member 9. A nut22 is turned on the threaded end of this bolt. By removing the not thelever,the straps 17, and the links 20 may all be folded down onto thetop of the main member 9, whereby convenience in shipment is promoted.The lower end of the lever has pivoted thereto a hook 23, which isadapted to engage any of the series of openings 12.

The device may consist merely of the main member 9 and the slidable arm11, and in the use of the device so constructed the outer end of themain portion 9 is placed against the wainsooting of the room. The-hook23 is then made to engage one of the openings 12 The lever 16 is thenpressed downwardly in a direction away from the outer end of theslidable arm, and this of course has the effect of sliding said armout,-

wardly. As the steel-wire brush 15 is in engagement with the carpet,said carpet'is necessarily stretched on the out movement of the arm. Thefine flexible wires take a firm grasp on the carpet, while yet they donot puncture or otherwise damage said carpet, as is-the case where rigidunyielding spikes or other sharp devices are employed. When the lever isturned down to its full extent, the slidable arm is held out in theposition to which it has been slid by means of the engagement of thefree end of a hook 24 with any of the series of openings 12, said hookbeing pivoted to the main member 9. If the first throw of the lever hasstretched the carpet to the requisite extent, the hook 2 1 is left inengagement with the particular opening of the slidable arm until thestretched carpet is tacked down, or if the lever is required to be givenanother throw in order to complete the stretching the hook 24 is left inengagement with the opening until the lever is again brought to anupright position. The said hook is then released and the lever depressedas before. WVhile the end of the main portion 9 may be placed againstthe wainscoting, this in all cases will not be practicable, and henceanother wire brush will be required, said brush being connected to theend of the main portion. This brush is indicated by the numeral and isremovably fitted by means of a tongue-and-groove connection. This brushwill, when the device is not placed against a wainscoting, firmly embeditself into the carpet, and hence hold the main portion 9 againstmovement.

I prefer to connect to the main member 9 another member or part wherebythe length of the device may be considerably increased when necessary.In the Figs. 1 to 5 form of construction this extra strip (indicated bythe numeral 26) is connected at one end by a hinge connection 27 to theend of the main member 9 in such manner that said member 26 may befolded beneath the part 9, as clearly shown. When thus folded under, thebrush 25,if employed, has a tongue-and-groove connection with the hingedend of said part 26, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When thetwo parts 9 and 26 are thus folded together, they are held in theirfolded relation by means of a small hook 28, pivoted to the member 26and its free end engaging a staple 29, secured to the edge of the member9. Whenever it is desired to increase the length of the device, thebrush 25 is removed from the member 26 and the hook 28 disengaged. Thesaid member 26 is then folded out to the position shown in Fig. 5 andthe brush 25 then adjusted to the end of the member 26, said end of themember 26 being suitably grooved to receive the tongues of the brush.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings I show a modified form of constructionwherein the extra member has a sliding connection with the main member 9instead of a hinge connection therewith. Referring to these figures, theextra member is indicated by the numeral 30. This member is U-shaped incross-section and provided with inwardly-extending tongues 31 31. Themain member 9 fits in the groove of the member 30, and the opposite sideedges of said member 9 are provided with grooves 32 32, which receivethe tongues 31. The upper slidable arm 11 has a tongue -and-grooveconnection with the main portion 9, the same as in the other form ofconstruction, and the straps 17 and links 20 (not shown in Figs. 6 and7) are connected at their lower ends to the main portion 9, the same asin the Figs. 1 to 5 form of construction. When it is desired to use theFigs. 6 and 7 construction in its shortest form, the member 30 is slidbeneath the member 9 and held thereto by means of a hook similar to thehook 28. The brush 25 is then adjusted to the under side of the end ofthe member 30. The hook 23 of the lever 16 is now made to engage one ofthe openings 12 of the slidable arm 11, and said lever is thendepressed. The arm 11 is thereby slid outwardly, and said arm is held inits outwardly-adjusted position by means of the engagement of a hooksimilar to the hook 2 1. If, now, it is desired to use thefull length ofthe stretcher, the member 30 is slid outwardly by hand. A bail 33 orother suitable locking device is then turned down, so that itscross-piece will engage across the end'of the member 9. The hook 23 isnext engaged with one of the series of openings 12, and by depressingthe lever, as before, the arm 11 will be forced outwardly.

By providing the extra carpet-engaging brush 25 it is not absolutelynecessary that the end of the main member should be placed against thewainscoting or other fixture in a room, as said brush affords a meansfor anchoring the end of the main portion or member at any location inthe room, and consequently I am thereby enabled to efiect a thoroughstretching of an intermediate portion of the carpet even in a roomhaving considerably greater length than is ordinarily the case.

It will of course be understood that in my improved form of constructionany desired number of extensible sections may be provided, so that Itherefore do not wish to be understood as confining myself to anyparticular number. I also in certain combinations of my device do notwish to be understood as restricting myself to the particular form ofanchoring devices shown in the accompanying drawingsviz., the brushes 15and 25inasmuch as any other suitable devices may be substituted whichwill have the eifect of engaging the carpet. The construction shown,however, is preferred, as by the use thereof all danger of tearing ormutilating the carpet is avoided. I furthermore do not wish to beunderstood as restricting myself to the particular form of leverconnection for pushing outwardly the section which it operates, as anyother desirable means capable of performing the same function may beemployed in lieu thereof.

What I claim as my invention is In a carpet-stretcher, the combinationof a main member, a stretcher member or arm slidingly connectedthereto,acarpet-engaging device carried at the end of the slidablemember, means for sliding the slidable stretcher member outwardly, meansfor holding said slidable stretcher member in its outwardlyadjustedposition, an extensible stretcher member or arm, a connection betweensaid extensible stretcher member or arm and the main member, saidconnection being such as to permitsaid extensible stretcher member toextend outwardly from and in longitudinal line with the main member, inorder to increase the length of the device, or to be disposed beneaththe main member with its outer end flush with the corresponding end ofthe main member, in order to decrease the length of the device, acarpet-engaging device for the extensible stretcher member or arm, and

I member, or when said extensible member is adjusted outwardly.

In testimony whereof I afifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN O. FEHRMANN. Witnesses: LM. SMITH, W. A. MUOK.

